Editorial:
Special Issue on Robotics and Mechatronics Technology for Aerial Robots
Hiroshi Ohtake*1, Satoshi Suzuki*2, Naoyuki Takesue*3, Masafumi Miwa*4, and Taro Fujikawa*5
*1Associate Professor, Faculty of Computer Science and Systems Engineering, Kyushu Institute of Technology
680-4 Kawazu, Iizuka, Fukuoka 820-8502, Japan
*2Associate Professor, Faculty of Engineering, Chiba University
1-33 Yayoi-cho, Inage-ku, Chiba, Chiba 263-8522, Japan
*3Professor, Graduate School of Systems Design, Tokyo Metropolitan University
6-6 Asahigaoka, Hino, Tokyo 191-0065, Japan
*4Associate Professor, Graduate School of Technology, Industrial and Social Sciences, Tokushima University
2-1 Minamijosanjima-cho, Tokushima, Tokushima 770-8506, Japan
*5Associate Professor, Graduate School of Science and Technology for Future Life, Tokyo Denki University
5 Senju Asahi-cho, Adachi-ku, Tokyo 120-8551, Japan
Aerial robot technologies, such as drones and unmanned aerial vehicles, are rapidly advancing in various domains. These robots now possess enhanced autonomous flying abilities and use sensor technology, Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) system, and cameras to avoid obstacles, automatically land, and track flights. Evolving technologies in airspace management and route optimization ensure that flights are efficient and safe. Aerial robots have a wide range of applications, such as agriculture, disaster response, environmental monitoring, and inspection. These devices excel at precise data collection thanks to their high-resolution cameras and high-precision sensors. Swarm robotics, which allows collaboration between multiple aerial and ground robots, is also progressing. This enables quick coverage of large areas, which benefits disaster relief and land management. In addition, research and development of flying robots modeled after flying animals is underway. The evolution of aerial robots results in their efficient use in a variety of fields and new applications.
This special issue includes the latest research papers and development reports on aerial robotic technology from the aforementioned perspectives. We hope that this special issue will pique researchers’ and engineers’ interest in aerial robots, thereby encouraging additional research and development. Finally, we would like to express our gratitude to all authors, all reviewers, the editorial board of the Journal of Robotics and Mechatronics, and Fuji Technology Press Ltd.
This article is published under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 Internationa License.